The Rangers have re-signed 25-year old righty swinging 2B/3B/OF Yangervis Solarte to a minor league deal. Solarte played in 130 games in AAA-ball last year for the Rangers last year and he was 149 of 518 (.288 avg, .745 OPS) with 69 runs scored, 11 homers, 54 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. He has now played in 539 games in his first seven years in the minors and he is 580 of 2,013 (.288 avg, .735 OPS) with 266 runs scored, 29 homers, 237 RBIs and 30 stolen bases. Solarte will get a shot to win a bench job for the Rangers next spring.

The Rangers have signed 26-year old righty reliever Collin Balester. Balester pitched in 11 games (0 starts) for the Tigers last year and he was 2-0 with a 6.50 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP. He also pitched in 31 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball last year in which he was 1-1 with 1 save, a 3.64 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP. Balester has now pitched in 73 games (22 starts) in his first five years in the majors and he is 7-16 with 5 saves, a 5.30 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP. Balester will get a shot to win a job in the Rangers’ bullpen next spring.

The Rangers have acquired 25-year old righty reliever Cory Burns from the Padres for either a player to be named later or cash considerations. Burns pitched in 17 games (0 starts) for the Padres in his first taste of the majors last year and he was 0-1 with a 5.50 ERA and a 2.00 WHIP. He also pitched in 52 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball last year for the Padres and he was 1-2 with 3 saves, a 3.14 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP. Burns will get a shot to make the Rangers’ bullpen next spring.

UPDATE: (12/6/2012) – The Rangers have sent 23-year old righty reliever Wilfredo Boscan to the Padres as they player to be named later in this deal. Boscan pitched in 34 games (9 starts) in AA-ball last year and he was 7-5 with a 3.75 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP.

31-year old lefty swinging outfielder Josh Hamilton finished in 5th place in the A.L. MVP voting last year. He played in 148 games for the Rangers last year and he was 160 of 562 (.285 avg, .930 OPS) with 103 runs scored, 43 homers, 128 RBIs and 7 stolen bases. Hamilton has now played in 647 games in his five years with the Rangers and he is 771 of 2,527 (.305 avg, .912 OPS) with 419 runs scored, 142 homers, 506 RBIs and 40 stolen bases. The Rangers better try to re-sign Hamilton this winter, because he will be virtually impossible to replace.

33-year old righty swinging 3B Adrian Beltre finished in 3rd place in the A.L. MVP voting in 2012. He played in 156 games for the Rangers last year and he was 194 of 604 (.321 avg, .921 OPS) with 95 runs scored, 36 homers, 102 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Beltre has now played in 280 games in his first two years with the Rangers and he is 338 of 1,091 (.310 avg, .908 OPS) with 177 runs scored, 68 homers, 207 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Signing Beltre two years ago is looking like an outstanding move, as he has ripped the ball for the Rangers while playing solid D at 3B.

27-year old lefty starting pitcher Matt Harrison finished in 8th place in the A.L. Cy Young Award voting in 2012. He pitched in 32 games (all starts) for the Rangers last year and he was 18-11 with a 3.29 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. He gave up 210 hits and 59 walks while whiffing 133 batters in 213 1/3 innings for the Rangers in 2012. Harrison has now pitched in 126 games (94 starts) in his first five years with the Rangers and he is 48-30 with 2 saves, a 4.08 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. Harrison just seems to get better every year and that bodes really well for the Rangers in the future.

60-year old manager Ron Washington tied for 6th in the A.L. Manager of the Year voting with Jim Leyland of the Tigers. The Rangers were 93-69 (57.4%) during the regular season but they were 0-1 in the playoffs in 2012. The Rangers are now 520-452 (53.5%) in his first six regular seasons in charge. They are also 18-16 (52.9%) in the playoffs with Washington in charge. Next year is going to be challenging for Washington as the Rangers’ roster is likely to look quite a bit different in 2013.

26-year old righty starting pitcher Yu Darvish finished in 3rd place in the A.L. Rookie of the Year vote and he also finished #9 in the Cy Young vote. Darvish also made the All-Star team in 2012. Darvish pitched in 29 games (all starts) for the Rangers last year and he was 16-9 with a 3.90 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. Darvish gave up only 156 hits and he whiffed 221 batters in only 191 1/3 innings last year, but he also walked 89 batters and that is way too many. Darvish can make a serious Cy Young run in the near future if he just starts throwing more strikes.

The Rangers have re-signed 24-year old righty reliever Johan Yan to a minor league deal. Yan played in 45 games (0 starts) in AA+AAA-ball for the Rangers last year and he was 1-1 with 11 saves, a 3.98 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. He has now pitched in 129 games (0 starts) in his first four years in the minors and he is 9-9 with 26 saves, a 3.35 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. Yan will likely start 2013 in AAA-ball for the Rangers.

The Rangers have acquired 24-year old righty starter Jacob Brigham from the Cubs for 23-year old righty starting pitcher Barret Loux and a player to be named later. Brigham was traded to the Cubs by the Rangers last July in the Geovany Soto deal. Brigham pitched in 23 games (all starts) in AA-ball for the Rangers and Cubs last year and he was 5-7 with a 4.72 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP. He has now pitched in 137 games (103 starts) in his first six years in the minors and he is 27-44 with 1 save, a 4.49 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. Barret Loux pitched in 25 games (all starts) in AA-ball for the Rangers last year and he was 14-1 with a 3.47 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP. Loux came into last year as the Rangers’ #20 prospect according to Baseball America. The Rangers must really like Brigham to make a deal like this one.

UPDATE: (12/1/2012) – The Rangers have decided not to tender a contract for 2013 to Jacob Brigham, making him a free agent.

UPDATE II: (12/6/2012) – The Rangers have re-signed Jacob Brigham to a minor league deal.